Reporters at the Pentagon have been told they can no longer report information which has not been approved

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced sweeping changes to how journalists cover the Pentagon, NPR reported Friday, citing two U.S. officials not authorized to speak publicly.

Under the new rules, reporters must sign a pledge agreeing not to collect any information — even unclassified material — unless it has been cleared for release. Those who fail to comply will lose their credentials, effectively blocking access to the Defense Department’s headquarters.

Hegseth, writing on social media, defended the move: “The ‘press’ does not run the Pentagon — the people do. The press is no longer allowed to roam the halls of a secure facility. Wear a badge and follow the rules — or go home.”

The Pentagon, the largest agency in the U.S. government, has long provided journalists with varying degrees of access. Hegseth’s decision marks a sharp break from that tradition and signals a new, more restrictive era for press coverage of defense operations.